Palos Park residents gathered once again on the Village Green for the annual Autumn in the Park festival, a two-day celebration that blended music, food, shopping and community tradition.
The festival first began in 2012 as a one-day chili cook-off, later expanding into the two-day event it is today. Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters said the growth of the festival has never changed its heart.
“The festival has grown from a one-day chili cook-off to a two-day festival with bands, artisans, games, food vendors and even a parade,” she said. “Despite its evolution over the years, it never lost its small-town charm. That welcoming spirit is what keeps people coming back and draws new people in year after year.”
The Radtke family is one of the families who come back every year to kick off the fall season.
“This is our favorite event in Palos Park,” Kathryn Radtke said. “From the food, to the music to the vendors – and I love that we can walk here.”
This year’s festival opened with food tents and local vendors serving everything from barbecue ribs and Italian specialties to pastries and ice cream. Visitors filled the Village Green with lawn chairs and blankets, settling in for live performances that stretched late into the evening.
Saturday’s parade wound through town with marching bands, floats, civic groups and families lining the streets to cheer. Children explored Tot Town, while others joined in crafts and activities led by the McCord Gallery, Palos Park Library and Palos Fine Arts. Shoppers browsed handmade jewelry, art and gifts at artisan booths, and sports fans caught the day’s games at the gazebo Sports Cave.
Mayor Milovich-Walters said her favorite part of the festival was simple—seeing neighbors connect.
Stephen DeFalco, Director of Recreation and Parks for the Village of Palos Park, agreed the festival has become a beloved tradition.
“Autumn in the Park Festival is a great time of year when the summer is ending and the school year and fall begin,” DeFalco said. “It’s amazing to see how many people come out and great to see residents that make it an annual tradition to come out.”
This year also brought a small but meaningful change. The parade, traditionally held in the morning, was shifted to the afternoon to better fit family schedules.
“We hope that this change will eliminate some conflicts with family commitments on Saturday morning and allow more people to attend,” Milovich-Walters said.
The weekend wrapped up with live music, dancing, and the presentation of the Reta Wegele Beautification Awards.
Milovich-Walters said the event continues to be a reflection of the town itself.
“Autumn in the Park Festival is a celebration of community spirit,” she said. “It’s a weekend that showcases Palos Park’s one-of-a-kind character, and I encourage everyone to come out and be a part of it.”
This article beautifully captures the warm, community-focused spirit of Palos Parks festival. The descriptions of the food, music, and family activities make it sound like a truly magical weekend, reminding me of the joy of small-town traditions. It’s heartwarming to see how everyone comes together to celebrate.